NST February Challenge : A Winter Voyage

SkintTeacher

mothernerd wrote: »

FurryBeastOz very well done.

SkintTeacher Yes some people have evry penny spoken for before it comes into the house - it's why we set budgets in advance and why some people are addicted to YNAB (can use on the phone and it reminds you how much is allocated/ has been spent in each category).

It is also why we say "Pay to your debts (or savings) first, live off the rest". If you have worked out your debt free date and divided the amount which needs repaying into months, then this amount is already set. Anything left after deducting all regular outgoings (Martin has a budget planner which helps work out what you are spending and work out where you can cut back) is for food.

Turtle rules are tough but after a while some become automatic (try following one or two at first) but we are always here to help. Remember 'No Turtle gets left behind'. We never 'fail' but we might not make all of our targets. We celebrate when when some succeeds and help/ commiserate when a turtle struggles. Being in the turtle gang definitely helps - months when any of us tried to go it alone are much harder. Each rule is a tool - the more you can use, the faster you reach your target.

If you have 'personal' spends would it help to put all impulse buys in that category and when it's gone, no more for the rest of the month. You could also jot down things you 'want' (very little is actually a 'need' ) and then decide which you can 'afford' to buy when your wage is paid.

It might help (this is all advice, I am not telling you off) if you write down how you are feeling. when you want to make the purchase. I sometimes eat when I am bored, tired, need something to do with my hands or had a bad day. Some people spend for the same reasons but any 'elation' from the purchase soon wears off.

I am going to stop there. Other people may have tips and advice too.

Thought the funeral hadn't affected me as much as usual (have felt totally wiped out by some) but started falling asleep (still holding the laptop) at 9pm and have slept soundly. Going to stay in bed for a while longer.

thank you for all this, I'll have a really good look through and implement. I think because I have about £60 left on the cc and more savings than ever, the motivation isn't there to save the rest of my money. I'll use the next half term to get back on track...

SkintTeacher

Grateful for
Advice on here
Free fun with the family
And unexpected swim this evening
Feeling fit and healthy to start a new half term

Calling14

Hi nice morning walk, however gave in to reduced rhubarb and ginger jam and some fudge.
Wasted rest of day dd turned up with baby when I was going to start gardening. Lunch ham and cheese salad made for us both. Fudge eaten oops

Couldn't face ham again for tea. Using up freezer stuff frozen roasties, parsnips and frozen chicken grill. Threw some fresh veg with it and a glass of wine to make it taste more bearable;-( don't eat much frozen food know why now !

greent

Urgh - the end of the weekend and the end of half term All alarms on phone sadly turned back on

Quick trip to Ald1 today - will update sig. £0.99 on cleaning stuff, £3 on personal spends (flowers) and £30ish on food. Made loads of bread rolls for lunch boxes. Smalls also had some for lunch today and the 3 biggies had them tonight with peri peri chicken, rice and salad. Apple and cherry crumble for afters (found a dozen chopped up cherries in freezer from last summer, so used them up along with some Bramleys from the fridge - which my mum gave me from her tree back in Sept/ Oct )

Ironing all up straight - but there is a load of wet washing hanging around to dry, so there will be more tomorrow.... Mended a pair of DS1's trousers, so that's a job out of the way

Today I am thankful for:
* OH doing most of the ironing
* warmer days
* longer days

crazy_cat_lady

Today I'm grateful for:
The gorgeous weather
My lovely mam
Crochet keeping my mind busy

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for dd accompanying me on her scooter while I did a short run, for making yummy thick soup for this week's lunches, for a quick chat with mum, for getting an important email sent off, for family time together.

Bobarella

Glad everyone is OK. Busy weekend with work and home.

Grateful for:

1. Good weather, so much hope on a lighter warmer day.
2. A nice meal tonight
3. My family.

Night.

Bob

mothernerd

Saw my cousin today, one of the onew whose mum has just died. Haven't seen him since our other cousin's 60th (2 years ago) then saw him on Thursday when I was in the taxi to the infirmary, at the funeral and again today - still we spent 9 years living next door to one another, wouldn't want to be that close again.

I have had a good day. Found a letter behind the door. Must have come yesterday but never went as far as the front door. My energy supplier wanted to put my direct debit up from £45 to £47 last year. As I was in credit I queried this and they said they would review it . In the end they left it at £45 all year. Now despite all the extra usage (2 laptops on non-stop, lights left on, kitchen gadgetry galore and even the tumble dryer being used) I am still in credit so they are reducing it to £22 a month for the next year. Part of the credit is because I got the warm homes £140 (energy company had widened the criteria and encouraged me to apply) so fingers crossed I end next year still in credit (I will be inculcating my ninja ways into Beloved and then we will do a joint assault on DS3). Extra will go to savings.

Today I am grateful for my energy company (thoughtful and individual service, just can't log into my account),
for a chat and a hug with my cousin (I.m a very huggy person),
and for meals from the freezer
+ the washing up pile is diminished and the recycling has gone out.

x_raphael_xx

nannygladys wrote: »

found biscuit wrappers pushed under the bed they used more like teenagers than grown up people!!!!

Did they not think it would be discovered?! I wonder at some peoples thought processes sometimes.

Good day today, nice long lie-in with puppy snugs, loads of cleaning done, bit of gaming & roast for tea.
NSD no 12 as that's all been achieved in my pjs.

Today I am grateful for: Rice bones to keep the pup quiet. Clean house. Yummy roast (even if I had to cook it)

mrshubbard

I've managed another 2 NSDs yesterday & today :T Very chuffed with myself as the temptation was there.

Yesterday we bought our bits for doing the shed door with gifted money and saw fence panels and posts in the clearance bit so bought them. The fence panels are long enough that we can cut a chunk off and use it for a garden gate too. Now we just need the weather to be dry a few days to get it in place. Hubby spent yesterday aft and this morning building the door whilst I played inside with little man. Usually we'd browse at b&q and get a brew whilst we're there but we didn't.

Today we went for a look round a local garden centre to window shop for when the garden's ready for planting. Also good for getting the dog out the house without him getting drenched again. He is a fairweather dog they do the most amazing, delicious, beautiful cakes which we'd usually have with a brew but again we resisted. Then round to the inlaws for Sunday lunch & pud so we would only have regretted eating the cake.

I think we may have been spending a ridiculous amount on brews, cakes, snacks, takeaways, lunches, etc as I seem to have nearly £300 still left to spend this month after all dds have gone out - not entirely sure how?! Do we always have this spare and just eat it?! We still have some food to buy next weekend and will need fuel butwe're still well over.

We've got an annoying extra expense next month now it will come in handy for. Our car got bumped & then whoever did it drove off, my hubby saw a scrape on the front corner. The washer light came on last week and we're thinking that's the day it was hit as when hubby tried to fill it it just all leaked right back out again. Looks like they've hit it harder than we thought and broke the washer bottle :mad: My hubby would try and fix it himself but he's had an arm op and would struggle as to get to the bottle you have to take off the wheel and arch. It's due in for an mot and service next month so will get them to do it at the same time.

Tomorrow is a spendy day. We need baby wipes and we're out with my parents in Liverpool for the day so lunch out but we will be going for the cheapest option.

I'm grateful for:-

More willpower than usual
A handy hubby
Clearance things you needed to buy anyway